The Devil [NYSM]

A YEAR'S WORTH

"Jack, check it out!"

Eva ran to his bed with a tablet in her hand. She sat on the edge and held it between them to see the screen where the other three horsemen announced their final show.

"Remember the names Jack Wilder and Eva Donahue when you see us live at Five Pointz, Queens at 7:00."

Jack checked his watch and popped up, "Ready to go?"

She nodded and shoved the tablet into her backpack. He grabbed their jackets and opened the door to the motel room. She pecked his cheek lightly as she passed.

She tried to move towards the car but Jack caught her hand. He wanted to walk with her but had to close the door first. She waited for him and they walked to the car together; he even opened her side first.

"What's with all the chivalry?" she asked once they started the drive.

"I can't be polite?"

"I didn't really expect it," she shrugged.

He rolled his eyes, "Well, I have to do all this now that we're-"

He abruptly cut himself off and shut his mouth. Eva's gaze shifted from looking out the window to looking at him. She saw his knuckles turn white from gripping the steering wheel too tightly.

A slow smile grew on her face and she leaned closer. He bit the inside of his cheek as a blush crawled up his face.

"Now that we're what?" she teased.

He refused to answer for fear of saying the wrong thing. He didn't want to screw up their relationship after spending a year building it.

"Say it, Jack."

"I don't want to," he uneasily said. She smirked and leaned closer, placing her hand on his knee. He inhaled sharply and tensed up.

She ran her fingers up his leg and stopped at his thigh. She pressed her lips to his neck and lightly kissed there. He craned his neck to the side to let her explore more.

But she pulled away and whispered into his ear, "Now that we're what?"

He swallowed the growing fear in his throat. His voice level matched hers as he barely murmured, "Together?"

She smiled and pressed another kiss to his neck. She pulled away and leaned back into her seat, removing herself from his vicinity completely.

He slumped in relief from the lack of tension. But at the same time, he craved her touch again. He was so focused on the missed feeling that he barely noticed that they were already at their destination.

"Eyes on the road, Jackie," she chided.

He numbly nodded and pulled over to the curb. Once he stopped, they hopped out and grabbed their equipment.

Once they walked in, they saw the gated room where the safe was supposed to be. They saw the man Merritt had hypnotized playing his fake violin.

"Poor bastard," Eva sighed, "At least Merritt didn't make him do jumping jacks instead."

Jack mumbled in agreement and continued walking. They reached the distance where the angled mirror was. Eva handed him the sledgehammer and backed up as he prepared to toss it.

"Goggles," he reminded. She nodded and put on the goggles to protect her eyes.

He swung back and released the hammer forward. It catapulted towards the glass, shattering it into tiny pieces. Eva turned her back to the spray as it rained down.

Once every piece head settled, she looked back and saw the revealed safe sitting in the center. She giddily clapped and walked forward, dragging Jack with her.

She took off her backpack and pulled out the other tools they needed.

"Can I please do the cool stuff?" she begged.

"I just threw a sledgehammer through a wall of glass," he reminded, "That's not cool to you?"

"Not as much as melting a steel safe."

She lined the outside of the safe door with a flammable foam. She didn't actually know what it was but Danny assured her it would melt the metal.

Once it was lined, Jack handed her the mini blowtorch. Her face lit up with even more excitement as she took the tool from him. She carefully ignited it and stepped back as the chain reaction crawled along the foam lining.

She backed up into Jack and he steadied her by the waist. The fire continued spreading until it melted through the door and it fell forward with a loud thump.

They both took off their goggles as they waited for the smoke to clear. As soon as it did, they saw the bunches of cash stacked on top of each other.

"Holy shit."

Eva numbly nodded in agreement. She stepped forward and grabbed a handful. Jack handed her several duffel bags to begin filling up with money. She handed him the cash while he stuffed it in the bags.

Once they were done, they passed by the hypnotized man once again and hopped in the car. They tossed the bags in the back and began to drive towards the Five Pointz parking garage where Thaddeus Bradley had parked his car.

The ride there was mainly quiet, with the exception of Eva giving Jack directions often. They also discussed what to have for dinner now that they were stuck in the motel together.

Once they arrived, they quickly dumped the money from the bags and put it in Bradley's car. Once it was shoved in there, they got back in and drove out.

As they exited, they could see money raining down from the building. The loud roads of cheers did not go unnoticed.

"The show must be over," Eva muttered, looking in awe at the sight of the fireworks.

Jack glanced over and saw her amazed expression. He smiled lightly and reached over to clasp her hand.

"I wonder if everything went smoothly," she said, "The hologram machine was acting up during the last test so-"

"I'm sure it worked perfectly. You built it after all."

She smiled and clutched his hand tighter. She shrugged sheepishly, "I had help."

"If you call annoying you every day and only providing coffee help, then sure, I helped."

They both laughed and glanced at each other. When they locked eyes, the mood fell a little more serious. But it was the light kind of seriousness that made them both feel comfortable.

"A whole year led to this."

He nodded and brought their intertwined hands up to press a kiss to the back of her hand,

"Worth it."

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